Undergraduate

Early Childhood Education (Grades PreK - 4)

RMU’s Early Childhood Education program will prepare you for a rewarding job in teaching, serving the PreK-4 population in schools, childcare settings, and child focused agencies across the country. Graduates are certified to teach in preschool, kindergarten, and primary classrooms, Grades 1-4, in Pennsylvania. The professional core courses, competencies, and experiences for the PreK-4 teacher preparation program develop teachers who are prepared to serve our most precious commodity, our children, and their families.

Throughout the program RMU’s teacher candidates will develop personal and professional competencies by participating in both theoretical and practical/applied experiences in local, national, and international settings. All teacher candidates complete a set of core experiences in professional education including participation in guided fieldwork.

Our education faculty members are specialists in their areas of expertise, and all have related work experience as practitioners in the field, such as principals, superintendents, and teachers.

Teaching is a highly respected profession which provides a regular daily and weekly work schedule, time off each year, excellent benefits, job security and opportunities to continue your education.

The mission of Robert Morris University education programs is to develop candidates who support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students. Our programs prepare undergraduate and graduate candidates to be sensitive educators who strive to increase K-12 student learning through the integration of technology, effective communication skills, and the application of theory into practice and improve the teaching profession.

Graduates will be certified to teach in public or private schools, or they may secure positions that require strong communication and leadership skills. Nationwide, starting teacher salaries range from $26,000 to $46,000, with veteran teacher salaries ranging from $75,000 to over $95,000. Currently, with more and more young teachers coming into the workforce, teacher salaries across the country average just over $50,000 per year.

The following links will take you to the recommended course sequence for each of the programs so you can complete the requirements within four years.

Special EducationSpecial Education Certification, PreK-8, can be paired with either Early Childhood or Middle Level Certification by taking 15 additional special education credits. Required Special Education courses include:

Teaching Students with High-Incidence Disabilities

Teaching Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities

Language Communication and Assistive Technologies

Special Education: Assessment, Evaluations and IEP's

Special Education: Collaboration and the Law

The Special Education program at RMU will prepare candidates with the knowledge base, skills, and competencies necessary to meet the needs of students with disabilities in multiple settings.

A quality teacher preparation program must focus explicitly and directly on the everyday classroom setting and the teaching and learning that happens there. Only by teaching can you become an effective teacher.

RMU's program is designed to put theory into practice through meaningful and rich classroom field experiences. As a teacher candidate, early in the program you will find yourself out in the schools, observing, interacting with and teaching children. Robert Morris University has formed excellent working relationships with local school districts and has established Professional Development Schools to give you access to all of the necessary practical classroom experiences.

In addition, our program is dedicated to prepare you in the most recent state-of-the-art theories, practices, and innovations, so that you hit the ground running upon graduation.

Through learning opportunities that are continually improved and updated, we provide enhanced opportunities to clear the way for our students’ success. In addition, our academic departments and programs have close ties with professional communities, providing valuable connections for our students.

Our programs support the intellectual, social, and personal development of students. They also prepare individuals through the integration of technology, effective communication skills, and the application of theory into practice. This is completed through the integration of internships and practicums, which provide real-world experiences for all majors. Overall, students will experience a dynamic combination of in-class and exciting engagement opportunities that fully prepare them for the many challenges that classroom teachers and applied psychology/social science working professionals manage on a daily basis.

Professors and lecturers teach introductory and advanced biology courses. They may also mentor students with projects and direct research programs.

The School of Education and Social Sciences faculty is comprised of caring individuals who accept the responsibility for educating the "whole" student at RMU. Consequently, our faculty members are specialists in their areas of expertise who effectively implement sound instructional practices when teaching and just as importantly, they engage students in a variety of purposeful enrichment activities outside the classroom setting. One hundred percent of SESS full-time faculty hold a doctorate degree in their field and have strong backgrounds as teachers, researchers, counselors, psychologists, principals, superintendents, and authors. Students learn from them first-hand what it takes to succeed.

One strength of the Education programs at RMU is the many faculty who are experts in Special Education:

For freshmen, high school grade point average and ACT/SAT scores are used. For transfer students, the cumulative grade point average of all college courses is used. Scholarships range from $1000 per year up to full tuition. (To calculate your scholarship eligibility, click here.)

Higher education is an investment in your future.

At Robert Morris University, we will work closely with you to show you how to finance your education through a combination of need-based financial aid, scholarships, and financing strategies to make your education attainable. RMU has one of the lowest tuition rates of all private institutions in the state, but we know that financing your education can be complicated, and your family might need help in understanding your options.